Spindle, especially two-for-one twisting spindle



J- J. KEYSEW Oct. 18, 1966 SPINDLE, ESPECIALLY TWO-FOR-ONE TWISTING SPINDLE Filed March 23, 1964 United States Patent Ofifice 31,279,162 Patented Oct. 18, 1966 Claims. ci. 57-5849) The present invention relates to a spindle, especially tWo-for-one twisting spindle. One of the main advantages of two-for-one twisting spindles is seen in the size of the bobbins and the length of the thread which, without work stoppage for exchanging the bobbin, can be twisted so that accordingly, the number of the knots in the thread will as a rule be less than is the case with ordinary spinning or twisting spindles. This advantage, however, is also accompanied by a drawback inasmuch as the threading of the thread causes difficulties during the start of the twisting operation and also in case of a break in the thread, and is time consuming. This is due to the fact that the thread to be twisted is to be passed through the thread guiding member and subsequently is to be passed from the top downwardly through a thread guiding tube to the thread storage disc and radially from the latter toward the outside and then outside the protective basket upwardly to the bobbin. In this connection, especially the threading through the thread storage disc causes difficulties inasmuch as this threading is to be effected by means of a threading wire and requires considerable skill. Also the withdrawal of the bobbin from the bobbin sleeve frequently causes difficulties inasmuch as the space above the double twisting spindle is rather limited and the bobbins have to be introduced onto and withdrawn from the bobbin sleeve in part in a direction perpendicular to the spindle axis.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a spindle, especially two-for-one twisting spindle, which will overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks.

It is another object of this invention to provide a spindle as set forth in the preceding paragraph, in which the difficulties heretofore encountered with the threading of the thread will be eliminated and can be effected without a threading instrument.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a spindle, especially twofor-one twisting spindle, which will make it possible to mount and withdraw the bobbin in a very simple manner and within a minimum of available space. Still another object of this invention consists in the provision of a spindle as set forth in the preceding paragraphs, which will be provided with stopping means that will make it possible to stop each spindle individually in a minimum of time.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a longitudinal section through a two-for-one twisting spindle with a thread storage disc loosely mounted on the driving means for said spindle;

FIGURE 2 illustrates the dot-dash-encircled pbrtion of FIGURE 1 but on a larger scale than the latter;

FIGURE 3 represents a section along the line IIIIII of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a section similar to that of FIGURE 2 but an image thereof, and with the thread storage disc elevated over the position it occupies in FIGURE 2.

The present invention is based on a spindle, especially a two-for-one twisting spindle, in which the thread guiding tube together with the bobbin-receiving sleeve is journalled in the hub of the overflow turntable and, by

means of magnets and countermagnets, is adapted to be secured against rotation. The spindle according to the present invention is characterized primarily in that the thread storage disc and the overflow turntable as well as those parts arranged thereabove and connected thereto are together loosely mounted on and are together detachable from the driving means for the spindle. In this way, an arrangement is provided in which the driving means, on one hand, and those spindle parts which carry out the spinning and twisting operation proper, on the other hand, are completely separated from each other along a substantially horizontal plane and are adapted to cooperate with each other by loosely mounting those two component parts or units one above the other. The rotation of the thread storage disc and the parts arranged above the same and connected thereto is effected merely by mounting the said component parts or units one above the other.

Due to the fact that the two component parts or units can be completely separated from each other by lifting off one of said units, it is possible, Without a threading instrument, to pass the thread radially outwardly from the thread storage disc. The lifted off unit will thus be accessible from all sides and can be brought into any de sired position which will facilitate the threading of the thread and the exchanging of bobbins or other parts, especially when the lifted off unit is completely removed from the machine and is prepared outside the machine.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the two-forone twisting spindle illustrated therein comprises a thread storage disc 1 including an overflow turntable 2 connected thereto. The thread storage disc 1 is in customary manner provided with a central recess 3 from which threadguiding grooves 4 extend radially outwardly. These thread-guiding grooves 4 lead into a slit 5 (FIG. 3) so that it is possible to insert thread 17 into the thread stor age disc 1 from below into one of the grooves 4. The edges of slit 5 are rounded and, if desired (as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3), may be reinforced by a wear-resistant material such as asbestos with synthetic resin.

The central portion of the overflow turntable 2 is provided with an axially upwardly extending hub 6 within which there are provided anti-friction bearings 7 and '8 which support a thread-guiding tube 9. Above the bearing 8, the said tube 9 carries the bobbin mounting head 10 which receives the bobbin sleeve 11 and to which is connected a conical hub sleeve 12 for a protective basket generally designated with the reference numeral 13. Above head 10 there is a thread-guiding eyelet 14 rotatably mounted on the thread-guiding tube 9. \Below bearing 7 and mounted on the thread-guiding tube 9 is a magnet 15 which may be designed as a multipolar permanent magnet and, if desired, may consist of a plurality of individual magnets composed to a ring magnet. Received by and mounted on said bobbin sleeve 11 is a bobbin 16 from which the thread 17 is twisted off. Thread 17 when leaving bobbin 16, passes through thread-guiding eyelet 14 and then moves vertically downwardly through tube 9 and after leaving the same passes radially outwardly through a groove 4 provided in the thread storage disc 1. From said groove 4 the thread passes below the overflow turntable 2 and finally upwardly outside the protective basket 13. Customarily, the protective basket 13 is provided with a thread balloon confining can (not shown in the drawing).

The above-described parts form a closed unit. The thread storage disc 1 with overflow turntable 2 is by means of bearings 7 and 8 freely rotatable about the thread-guiding tube 9, whereas the remaining parts fixedly connected to the thread-guiding tube 9 normally are at a standstill, with the exception of the freely rotatable threadguiding eyelet 14. The said standstill is assured by arranging at least one countermagnet 18 opposite and in spaced relationship to magnet 15. This countermagnet 18, which may be of the same type as magnet 15, is stationarily arranged centrally within the driving means for the storage disc. The said magnet 15, in cooperation with magnet 18, will be able to assure that the thread storage disc with the ovenflow turntable and those par-ts which are located above and connected to the overflow turntable, will, during rotation of the thread-guiding disc, rest under the necessary pressure on the driving means for the turntable so as to prevent a tilting of the turntable or storage disc. Cooperation of magnets and 18 also will assure the standstill of the thread-guiding tube and the sleeve with bobbin and protective basket, all carried by said threadguiding tube.

As has been clearly shown in FIG. 1, countermagnet 18 is arranged within the driving means for the spindle whichcomprises a driving whorl 19 the upper edge of which is provided with a radially outwardly extending flange 20 engaging surface 21 of thread storage disc 1 and supporting the latter. Both parts, flange 2t) and disc 1, are coaxially arranged with regard to each other by means of the conical surface 22 of disc 1 and the correspondingly shaped conical surface 20a of flange 20, said two conical surfaces engaging each other. In this way, a large seat for the thread storage disc will be obtained on the driving means, and its central position with regard to said driving means will be assured.

In conformity with a further development of the invention, the driving whorl 19 is rotatable about a stationary shank the upper end of which carries the said countermagnet 18. In this way, so to speak, in the interior, for instance of a two-for-one twisting spindle, there is formed a dead divided shank one section of which is located in the driving device, whereas the other section is located in the upper portion of the spindle and formed by said thread-guiding tube 9.

Whorl 19 is by means of anti-friction bearings 23 and 24 journalled on a tube 25 which by means of a collar 26, sleeves 27, washer 28 and a nut 29 is non-displaceably mounted on a spindle rail 30.

Axially displaceably arranged within the interior of tube 25 is a hollow shank 31 provided with an outer thread 32 which latter meshes with an inner thread 33 in tube 25. The lower end of shank 31 is by means of thread 3-2 guided in tube 25, whereas the upper end of shank 31 is guided by a guiding surface 34 of hollow shank 31. It is above said guiding surface 34 that the countermagnet 1-8 is arranged. In addition to holding the guiding tube 9 and the bobbin stationary with regard to the spindle rail, the said magnets 15 and 18 may also be used for individually braking and stopping the storage disc of the spindle. To this end, the countermagnet 18 may be arranged so as to be adjustable as to height. In the way, by lifting magnet 18, it is possible to engage disc 1 and lift said disc otf whorl 19 while stopping said disc. This stopping action will be speeded up by the fact that the thread storage disc will rest on the stationary countermagnet 18 and, in view of the friction, will be braked considerably.

Countermagnet 18 may in working operation of the spindle be located with play below the storage disc and may be provided with a friction surface facing a corresponding surface of disc 1. In this way, it will be necessary to lift countermagnet 1 8 by a slight distance only in order to bring about a braking and stoppage of disc 1. Furthermore, a high braking eifect will be assured. This braking effect may furthermore be improved by designing the disc 1 engaging portion of magnet 18 in the form of a radially extending flange facing the central recess 3. While the thus obtained relatively large braking surface aids in the braking operation, its centering edge, in cooperation with a corresponding centering recess in disc 1, will assure the concentric location of the thread storage disc 1 with regard to the axis of rotation of the spindle.

It is selfunderstood that the mutual distance of the magnets for the operation of the spindle is dependent on the thickness of the employed magnets. For effecting the axial displacement of shank 31, the lower end of this shank has connected thereto an adjusting lever 35 the rotation of which in one or the other direction will effect an axial displacement of shank 31. Countermagnet 18 is provided with a radially extending flange 36. This flange may form an integral part of countermagnet 18 and may be a magnet itself but if desired, it may represent a flange extending on the outside around the magnet. In the particular embodiment illustrated in the drawing, flange 36 is so arranged that it is located outside the recess 3 closely below the surface 37 of the thread storing disc 1. The outer marginal area of flange 36 is conically inclined, and the thread disc 1 has a recess with a correspondingly inclined surface, so that also at this section the seat and centering surfaces are located opposite to each other. However, they are not in engagement with each other when the spindle is in operation. In particular, FIG. 2 clearly shows the relative relationship of flange 20 of the driving whorl 19 with regard to the thread storing disc 1 and also shows the relative relationship between flange 36 of magnet 18 and thread storing disc 1. Inasmuch as surfaces 21 and 22 of the thread storage disc 1 rest on flange 20 of whorl 19, it will be appreciated that when the spindle is in operation, the thread storage disc 1 is rotated by the driving whorl 19. In this instance, the two parts will, in view of the power exerted by magnets 15 and 18, closely and concentrically sit upon each other. If now, by turning shank 31, magnet 18 and thus its flange 36 is lifted as is shown in FIG. 4, flange 36 will engage surface 37 of thread storage disc 1 and will lift the thread storage disc by means of surfaces 21 and 22 off flange 20 of the whorl 19. The contact between flange 36 and thread storage disc 1 brings about a braking of thread storage disc 1 and thus will quickly stop those parts which carry out the twisting operation. Driving whorl 19 and thread storage disc 1 are thus separated from each other in conformity with FIG. 4, and consequently disc 1 is no longer driven.

If the spindle is again to be put into operation, a turning of the adjusting lever 35 in a corresponding direction will suflice, so that flange 36 of magnet 18 will be lifted off, and disc 1 will again rest on flange 20 of whorl 19 so as to be driven thereby. A further lowering of the magnet 18 reduces the magnetic force by which the thread disc and the driving device are pressed to each other so that the thread storage disc 1 together with the parts supported thereby can be completely lifted off from the driving device without any particular effort.

As will be evident from FIG. 4, the thread storage disc 1 is loosely placed upon flange 20 of whorl 19. In this position as well as in the lifted braking position, the concentric location of the thread storage disc 1 with regard to its axis of rotation will be assured, viz. on one hand by the cooperation of the conical centering surfaces along the outer margin of the whorl flange 20 and on the thread storage disc 1, and on the other hand by the cooperation of the conical centering surfaces on flange 36 of magnet 18 with the thread storage disc 1. It will be evident that if desired, the centering of the parts may also be effected in any other known ways.

In view of the loose placement upon each other of the above-mentioned parts, no difficulties will be encountered in lifting the thread storage disc 1 and parts connected thereto off the drive in order in this position to be able to pass thread 17 radially through the thread storage disc 1, as described in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3. In this connection, it is of particular advantage that the lifted off part may, if so desired, be removed from the machine as evident for the preparatory work.

The spindle according to the present invention may, of course, be equipped with a broken thread end detector of any standard design, and this detector may be arranged.

so as automatically to bring about an axial adjustment of shank 31 for purposes of braking and stopping the spindle in case of a break in the thread. The adjustment of shank 31 may also be so designed as to act simultaneously upon a plurality of spindles. In such an instance, each spindle is provided with an adjusting device which is actuated in common with the other adjusting devices.

As will be evident from the above, the present invention has numerous advantages over heretofore known spindles of the type involved. Thus, the present invention brings about a compact structure inasmuch as in contrast to heretofore known two-for-one twisting spindles with magnets, all magnets are coaxially arranged. While the magnets assure that the thread disc and the overflow turntable will be firmly pressed against the driving device, the said magnets nevertheless permit a lifting off and putting upon each other of the thread storage disc with the spindle parts connected thereto and located thereabove, while there exists no necessity of having to loosen mechanical parts such as screws or the like.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means limited to the particular construction shown in the drawing but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims. Thus, while the particular embodiment shown represents a two-for-one twisting spindle, the present invention may also be realized in connection with other spindles. It is merely necessary that the upper part which. carries the spindle sleeve is loosely seated on the driving device so as to be able at any desired time to be separated therefrom in the manner described above. Also with such an arrangement, preferably magnets and countenmagnets in coaxial arrangement are employed in order to assure the connection between the upper and lower spindle unit. Preferred spindle types are twisting spindles and rubberapplying spindles.

It is also to be understood that the terms magnet and countermagnet employed hereinbefore do not restrict the invention to the employment of permanent magnets but that instead, also multipolar magnets including electromagnets maybe employed, for instance also a two-polar magnet cooperating with a countermagnet consisting merely of an iron plate or the like closing the magnetic force field.

What I claim is:

1. A spindle, especially twofor-one twisting .spindle, which includes: a rotatable overflow turntable having hollow hub means connected thereto and also having an annular portion with an inner circumferential tapering surface tapering in the direction toward said hub means, thread guiding tube means extending into said hub means in spaced relationship thereto and adapted to support bobbin-receiving sleeve means, bearing means interposed between and supporting both said thread guiding tube means and said hub means while permitting rotation of said hub means and thereby said turntable relative to said tube means, first magnetic means connected to said tube means, second magnetic means arranged in spaced relationship to said first magnetic means and adapted magnetically to act upon said first magnetic means to hold the latter and thereby said tube means stationary, and driving means having a circumferential surface portion tapering in conformity with the inner circumferential tapering surface of said turntable and detachably friction-ally engaging the same whereby said turntable is frictionally rotatable by said driving means while selectively permitting detachment of said turntable together with said hub means and said guiding means from said driving means by merely lifting said turntable off said driving means.

2. A spindle, especially two-for-one twisting spindle according to claim 1, in which said driving means includes a whorl with a radially extending flange facing said turntable and having its peripheral surface tapered for detachable and frictional engagement with said inner circumferential tapering surface [of said turntable, said turntable and said flange being substantially coaxially arranged with regard to each other.

3. A spindle, especially two-for-one twisting spindle, which includes: a rotatable overflow turntable having hollow hub means connected thereto, upwardly extending tube means extending into said hub means in spaced relationship thereto and adapted to support bobbin-receiving sleeve means, bearing means interposed between and supporting both said tube means and said hub means while permitting rotation of .said hub means and thereby said turntable relative to said tube means, first magnetic means connected to the lower end portion of said tube means, hollow drive means arranged below said turntable and substantially coaxially therewith, said drive means normally having said turntable resting thereon for driving the same, said turntable being adapted selectively to be lifted oif said drive means, second magnetic means arranged opposite said first magnetic means in spaced relationship thereto and surrounded by said hollow drive means for magnetically exerting a holding force upon said first magnetic means, and means for holding said second magnetic means stationary.

4. A spindle, especially two-for-one twisting spindle, which includes: a rotatable overflow turntable having hollow hub means connected thereto, upwardly extending tube means extending into said hub means in spaced relationship thereto and adapted to support bobbin-receiving sleeve means, bearing means interposed between and supporting both said tube means and said hub means while permitting rotation of said hub means and thereby said turntable relative to said tube means, first magnetic means connected to the lower end portion of said tube means, hollow drive means arranged below said turntable and substantially coaxially therewith, said drive means normally resting thereon for driving the same, said turntable being adapted selectively to be lifted off said drive means, shaft means extending into said hollow drive means in radially spaced relationship thereto, means for holding said shaft means stationary, additional bearing means mounted on said shaft means and rotatably supporting said drive means, and second magnetic means supported by said shaft means and arranged opposite said first magnetic means in spaced relationship thereto.

'5. A spindle, especially two-for-one twisting spindle, which includes: a rotatable overflow turntable having hollow hub means connected thereto, upwardly extending tube means extending into said hub means in spaced relationship thereto and adapted to support bobbin-receiving sleeve means, bearing means interposed between and supporting both said tube means and said hub means while permitting rotation of said hub means and thereby said turntable relative to said tube means, first magnetic means connected to the lower end portion of said tube means, hollow drive means arranged below said turntable and substantially coaxially therewith, said drive means normally having said turntable resting thereon for driving the same, said turntable being adapted selectively to be lifted ofl said drive means, second magnetic means arranged opposite said first magnetic means in spaced relationship thereto and surrounded by said hollow drive means for magnetically exerting a holding force upon said first magnetic means, means operatively connected to said second magnetic means for varying the spacing thereof relative to said first magnetic means, and means for holding said second magnetic means stationary.

6. A spindle, especially two-fonone twisting spindle, which includes: a rotatable overflow turntable having hollow hub means connected thereto, thread guiding tube means extending into said hub means in spaced relationship thereto a-nd adapted to support bobbin-receiving sleeve means, bearing means interposed between and supporting both said thread guiding tube means and said hub means while permitting rotation of said hub means and thereby said turntable relative to said tube means, first magnetic means connected to said tube means, driving means normally having said turntable resting thereon for driving the same, said turntable being adapted selectively to be lifted off said driving means, and second magnetic means arranged below said first magnetic means in spaced relationship thereto and having surface means selectively movable into an out of braking engagement with said turntable.

7. A spindle, especially two-forone twisting spindle, which includes: a rotatable overflow turntable having hollow hub means connected thereto, said turntable being provided with a central centering recess, thread guiding tube means extending into said hub means in radially spaced relationship thereto and being adapted to support bobbin-receiving sleeve means, bearing means interposed between and supporting both said thread guiding tube means and said hub means while permitting rotation of said hub means and thereby said turntable relative to said hub means, driving means normally having said turntable resting thereon so as to be detachable therefrom by merely lifting said turntable ofi said driving means, first magnetic means connected to said hub means, and second magnetic means arranged below and in spaced relationship to said first magnetic means and operable to exert a magnetic holding force thereon, said second magnetic means being provide-d with a centering surface for selectively engaging said centering recess of said turntable and lifting said turntable off said driving means.

8. A spindle, especially two-for-one twisting spindle, which includes: a rotatable overflow turntable having holl-ow hub means connected thereto, thread guiding tube means extending into said hub means in radially spaced relationship thereto and adapted to support bobbin-receiving sleeve means, bearing means interposed between and supporting both said thread guiding tube means and said hub means while permitting rotation of said hub means and thereby said turn-table relative to said tube means, driving means normally having said turntable resting thereon for driving the same, said turntable being detachable from said driving means by lifting said turntable off said driving means, first magnetic means connected to said tube means, shaft means arranged below and in spaced relationship to said tube means, second magnetic means supported by said shaft means in spaced relationship to said first magnetic means and operable to exert magnetic holding force upon said first magnetic means and thereby said tube means, and means operatively connected to said shaft means for adjusting the same and thereby said second magnetic means relative to said first magnetic means.

9. An arrangement according to claim 8, which includes stationarily arranged tubular means surrounding and guiding said shaft means, and means for arresting said shaft means in its respective adjusted position.

10. An arrangement according to claim 8, in which said shaft means is provided with outer thread means, and which includes stationarily arranged tubular means surrounding said shaft means and provided with inner thread means meshing with the outer thread means of said shaft means, .and lever means connected to said shaft means for selectively rotating the same to thereby affect axial movement of said shaft means and thereby said second magnetic means relative to said first magnetic means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,684,566 7/1954 Roberts 5758.76 2,731,786 :l/ l956 Klein 5758.76 X 3,159,962 12/1964 Franzen 5758.49

FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

MERVIN STEIN. D. E. WATKINS, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A SPINDLE, ESPECIALLY TWO-FOR-ONE TWISTING SPINDLE, WHICH INCLUDES: A ROTATABLE OVERFLOW TURNTABLE HAVING HOLLOW HUB MEANS CONNECTED THERETO AND ALSO HAVING AN ANNULAR PORTION WITH AN INNER CIRCUMFERENTIAL TAPERING SURFACE TAPERING IN THE DIRECTION TOWARD SAID HUB MEANS, THREAD GUIDING TUBE MEANS EXTENDING INTO SAID HUB MEANS IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP THERETO AND ADAPTED TO SUPPORT BOBBIN-RECEIVING SLEEVE MEANS, BEING MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN AND SUPPORTING BOTH SAID THREAD GUIDING TUBE MEANS AND SAID HUB MEANS WHILE PERMITTING ROTATION OF SAID HUB MEANS AND THEREBY SAID TURNTABLE RELATIVE TO SAID TUBE MEANS, FIRST MAGNETIC MEANS ARRANGED IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO SAID MAGNETIC MEANS ARRANGED IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO SAID FIRST MAGNETIC MEANS AND ADAPTED MAGNETICALLY TO ACT UPON SAID FIRST MAGNETIC MEANS TO HOLD THE LATTER AND THEREBY SAID TUBE MEANS STATIONARY, AND DRIVING MEANS HAVING A CIRCUMFERENTIAL SURFACE PORTION TAPERING IN CONFORMITY WITH THE INNER CIRCUMFERENTIAL TAPERING SURFACE OF SAID TURNTABLE AND DETACHABLY FRICTIONALLY ENGAGING THE SAME WHEREBY SAID TURNTABLE IS FRICTIONALLY ROTATABLE BY SAID DRIVING WHILE SELECTIVELY PERMITTING DETACH- 